Drinking Age

[Ixion]

All the examples I mentioned are just other exmples where behaviour by a minority has penalised the majority, NOT comparing bad law with bad law. .

With the exception of the breath alcohol one, bad law because they attempt to address a problem by imposing a blanket restriction that does not address the problem, yet inflicts a loss of freedom on the law abiding majority

Problem: Some people drive at dangerous speeds. Valid solution - punish (or eductae) those that do. Actual solution, pass a law punishing all who drive at more than a certain speed , even if not dangerous. Even though the very people who caused the original problem will be the very ones who will ignore the law. Which is therefore a bad law

Problem: Some people misuse guns. Valid solution . Either prevent such people possessing them or punish misuse . Actual solution - well you get the idea.

The only legitimate one is maybe breath alcohol since if the level is set at a scientifically valid level it should not affect the lawabiding.

As to the drunk teenagers who bashed the man to death - would they have been any better sober? I doubt it, reality is that some folk are rotten in the core, drunk or sober.

Make those who cause a problem accountable for their actions. Don't try to let them off the hook by shifting the responsibility to a whole, largely law abiding segment of society

And as I think laws that do that are wrong, and bad laws, I do not consider existing ones valid precedent for passing new ones.

This sort of law making is like saying that because baby LillyBing was bashed to death, no Maoris should be allowed to have babies. It would solve the problem, wouldn't it? See how silly such laws can be.

Shit, if I'm not careful I'll find myself agreeing with Mr Oldrider.

[rudolph]

Use up all the tolit papper and wear out the dance floor

[James Deuce]

I'm sure the drunk businessman in Christchurch that was fatally bashed over the head by drunk teenagers aged about 17yrs a couple of monthe ago will be feeling the same sentiments as you guys.

Alcohol? If none remained on this earth I would be a happier man - even though I like the stuff myself.

I've been run over and nearly killed, and as it turns out had a great deal of quality of life removed, and probably a decade or two of life span, by a drunk driver.

I don't hold all drunk drivers responsible for my injury, nor do I hold alcohol responsible.

The guy that hit me took the sort of "reasonable risk" that a lot of "normal" kiwis still do. "I only have to go around the corner, nothing will go wrong. Just one more and I'll drive 100 metres up the road and get on the ferry." Even a couple of days later, strapped to a board and staring up into his tear streaked, lined, 70 something year old face I couldn't see the point of punishing him personally for what is a culturally acceptable "mistake" in NZ. He knew what he'd done alright.

I got pissed off when I found out that the courts considered me to be practically worthless though, but it wasn't personal. That was an example of a law that attempts to mitigate the punishment for an action that is usually just inattention or bad decision making rather than out and out attempted murder.

[Michaelt]

The bill has been defeated 72 to 49.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/st...ectID=10409844

[James Deuce]

We can be quiet now and go have a drink with the 14 year old hoodies in the River Rd carpark then?

[Michaelt]

I'm quite happy it's been defeated actually.

I don't drink, but my 18th bday is in less than a week, and I do like having the freedom to do things, even if I have no intention of doing them.

[James Deuce]

Good on you.

The legal age to buy alcohol was 20 when I were a dickhead, err, teenager, however I think I spent more time drunk and had more hangovers in the 3 years from 17 to 20 than I've had in the next 20 years.

Mind you all the hangovers I have had since then have been Mooch's fault.

[Indiana_Jones]

I'm over 18

SU-SU-SUSSUDIO!

-Indy

[scumdog]

F***, F***, I thought my job was about to be made easier!!

Fot you "it's o.k. for 18 year olds to buy alcohol, buy alcohol etc - well fuuuuck-youuuuuo!
My salary is not sufficient to compensate for thw misery and problems that under 18 booze causes.

For a lot of you the involvement for you is the TV3 version of Whangamata, North Shore etc.

For me it is EVERY Friday and Saturday night with bruised and bleeding and crying teenagers that cannot afford the prices of 'controlled environmet' pub drinking but prefer cheap mixers (in my youth reserved for candy-arsed poofs and girls) they can afford before going to the pub for the last two-three hours before 'chuck-out' time.

Have a happy drinking session with your sub-18 off-spring.

[Hitcher]

F***, F***, I thought my job was about to be made easier!!

Fot you "it's o.k. for 18 year olds to buy alcohol, buy alcohol etc - well fuuuuck-youuuuuo!
My salary is not sufficient to compensate for thw misery and problems that under 18 booze causes.

If I thought for one moment that raising the "drinking" age would remedy this problem, I would agree with you.

[Michaelt]

How about a test before you can buy alcohol, where you need to learn the "Alcohol Code" and you get an "Alcohol License"?

I don't even care if it's as easy as the learner drivers license or firearms license test, even that'd help.

[scumdog]

If I thought for one moment that raising the "drinking" age would remedy this problem, I would agree with you.

Piss-take right??

Like the problem was not as bad before the drinking age was lowered??? Pfft!!

Come and do my job for a week-end and then comment!! .


Too late, you have no comparison with what I dealt with pre-18 leagal drinking age laws.

[Grahameeboy]

Piss-take right??

Like the problem was not as bad before the drinking age was lowered??? Pfft!!

Come and do my job for a week-end and then comment!! .


Too late, you have no comparison with what I dealt with pre-18 leagal drinking age laws.

Hit the nail on the head Mr Scumdog...suspect lowering was more of a votes thing....surprised they don't lower voting age soon to get more voters eh.

Anyway, I see where you are coming from.

[Wasp]

but cmon, dont punish responsible 18 year olds like me (i barely drink at all). i WANT to be allowed into pubs after group rides, i wont even be buying alcohol when i have the bike anyway...

I am completly for the retailer age to be 20/21 but keep the pub age at 18.

[Lucy]

I had to laugh when I heard a young guy on TV reciting the 'If I'm old enough to fight for my country' line. Can you imagine a 2006 version of an 18 yr old fighting for his country? I can't. Most of them don't even bother to vote. Probably not even possible in this PC day and age to force people in to the army if a war broke out.